Chapter VIII.

Of the mystical feast of the altar of the Lord.
Lest any should think lightly of it, St. Ambrose shows that it is of
higher antiquity than the sacred rites of the Jews, since it was
foreshadowed in the sacrifice of Melchisedech, and far better than the
manna, as being the Body of Christ.

43. The cleansed
people, rich with these adornments, hastens to the altar of Christ,
saying: “I will go to the altar of God, to God Who maketh
glad my youth;”28852885Ps. xliii.
[xlii.] 4. for having
laid aside the slough of ancient error, renewed with an eagle’s
youth, it hastens to approach that heavenly feast. It comes, and
seeing the holy altar arranged, cries out: “Thou hast
prepared a table in my sight.” David introduces the people
as speaking, where he says: “The Lord feedeth me, and
nothing shall be wanting to me, in a place of good pasture hath He
placed me. He hath led me forth by the water of
refreshment.” And later: “For though I walk in
the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art
with me. Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me. Thou hast
prepared in my sight a table against them that trouble me. Thou
hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy inebriating cup, how excellent
it is!”28862886Ps. xxiii.
[xxii.] 1–5.
After being baptized and confirmed in the baptistery, which was
detached from the church, the newly “enlightened” were led
in solemn procession into the church to be present at the celebration
of the Mysteries, and to receive their first communion.

44. We must now pay attention, lest
perchance any one seeing that what is visible (for things which are
invisible cannot be seen nor comprehended by human eyes), should say,
“God rained down manna and rained down quails upon the
Jews,”28872887Ex. xvi. 13. but for
the Church beloved of Him the things which He has prepared are those of
which it is said: “That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath
prepared for them that love Him.”288828881 Cor. ii. 9. So, lest any one should say
this, we will take great pains to prove that the sacraments of the
Church are both more ancient than those of the synagogue, and more
excellent than the manna.

45. The lesson of Genesis just read shows that
they are more ancient, for the synagogue took its origin from the law
of Moses. But Abraham was far earlier, who, after conquering the
enemy, and recovering his own nephew, as he was enjoying his victory,
was met by Melchisedech, who brought forth those things which Abraham
reverently received. It was not Abraham who brought them forth,
but Melchisedech, who is introduced without father, without mother,
having neither beginning of days, nor ending, but like the Son of God,
of Whom Paul says to the Hebrews: “that He remaineth a
priest for ever,” Who in the Latin version is called King of
righteousness and King of peace.

46. Do you recognize Who that is? Can a man
be king of righteousness, when himself he can hardly be
righteous? Can he be king of peace, when he can hardly be
peaceable? He it is Who is without mother according to His
Godhead, for He was begotten of God the Father, of one substance with
the Father; without a father according to His Incarnation, for He was
born of a Virgin; having neither beginning nor end, for He is the
beginning and end of all things, the first and the last. The
sacrament, then, which you received is the gift not of man but of God,
brought forth by Him Who blessed Abraham the father of faith, whose
grace and deeds we admire.

47. We have proved the sacraments of the
Church to be the more ancient, now recognize that they are
superior. In very truth it is a marvellous thing that God rained
manna on the fathers, and fed them with daily food from heaven; so that
it is said, “So man did eat angels’ food.”28892889Ps. lxxxviii.
[lxxxvii.] 25. But yet all those who ate that
food died in the wilderness, but that food which you receive, that
living Bread which came down from heaven, furnishes the substance of
eternal life; and whosoever shall eat of this Bread shall never die,
and it is the Body of Christ.

49. Now consider whether the bread of angels be
more excellent or the Flesh of Christ, which is indeed the body of
life. That manna came from heaven, this is above the heavens;
that was of heaven, this is of the Lord of the heavens; that was liable
to corruption, if kept a second day, this is far from all corruption,
for whosoever shall taste it holily shall not be able to feel
corruption. For them water flowed from the rock, for you Blood
flowed from Christ; water satisfied them for a time, the Blood satiates
you for eternity. The Jew drinks and thirsts again, you after
drinking will be beyond the power of thirsting; that was in a shadow,
this is in truth.

49. If that which you so wonder at is but shadow,
how great must that be whose very shadow you wonder at. See now
324what happened in the case of
the fathers was shadow: “They drank, it is said, of that
Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with many
of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. Now these things were done in a figure concerning
us.”289028901 Cor. x. 4. You
recognize now which are the more excellent, for light is better than
shadow, truth than a figure, the Body of its Giver than the manna from
heaven.

2886Ps. xxiii.
[xxii.] 1–5.
After being baptized and confirmed in the baptistery, which was
detached from the church, the newly “enlightened” were led
in solemn procession into the church to be present at the celebration
of the Mysteries, and to receive their first communion.